UPMC Health Plan wins award for multicultural
health care

UPMC Health Plan has been awarded the prestigious “Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award” by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The award recognizes the Health Plan’s efforts to reach across cultural divides and provide Health Plan members in Western Pennsylvania with appropriate health care services in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner. 

UPMC Health Plan used 2004 claims data to identify differences in maternity care among Medicaid members. It was determined that Braddock, an area outside Pittsburgh, had a high prevalence of poor birth outcomes among African American women. UPMC Health Plan addressed this issue by partnering with providers and the community to find innovative methods to improve birth outcomes for pregnant women in Braddock.

The results were very positive. First-trimester enrollment in the maternity program more than doubled, from 15.2 percent to 42.2 percent, and babies with low birth weight decreased from 11.2 percent in 2005 to 8.2 percent in 2006.

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. For more information, visit www.ncqa.org.